Updated on: 9/24/2020
A car and motorcycle collided Wednesday south of the Hood Canal Bridge, resulting in the motorcyclist’s death and the driver of the car under arrest for a suspected DUI, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Highway 3 and Big Valley Road around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. First responders arrived at the scene and found the motorcyclist – a 76-year-old Yelm man – with severe injuries. He later died.
The motorcyclist was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.
State Patrol’s investigation found that the driver of the car – a 58-year-old Silverdale man – caused the crash and was impaired. The car reportedly was heading in the opposite direction as the motorcycle when the car crossed the center line and collided with the motorcycle.
The driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of DUI and now faces a vehicular homicide charge.
What Happens After A Suspected DUI Accident?
As most already know, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a felony offense in Washington State. If a drunk or high driver injures someone because of their reckless behavior behind the wheel, they may be also charged with vehicular assault. If that act results in a death, they may be charged with vehicular homicide.
To prove that a crime has been committed, police officers may begin their investigation by:
- Observing the interior of the at-fault driver’s car to see if they smell alcohol or find empty bottles.
- Performing a field sobriety test at the scene if the at-fault driver has not been injured in the collision.
- Using a Breathalyzer device to check the at-fault driver’s blood alcohol content.
- Obtaining a search warrant and having blood drawn at a nearby hospital for a toxicology test.
Defendants are sometimes required to pay restitution as part of the criminal element of their case. Those fines, however, are rarely large enough to cover an injured person’s medical bills, or in the case above, the damages in a wrongful death accident.
A personal injury lawyer can communicate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to help the victim get the compensation they deserve.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm after an accident with a drunk driver, you can get in touch with the legal team at Davis Law Group, P.S., any time by using our convenient chat feature, visiting our contact form on this page, or calling (206) 727-4000.
Initial consultations with Davis Law Group are always free, and you don’t have to pay up-front to hire one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. We always work on a contingency fee basis and there are no-up front costs should you decide to hire our firm.
